Sometimes it can be difficult to believe that we are loved. Perhaps shame or guilt over our mistakes and shortcomings overwhelms us. Perhaps we are haunted by memories of being mistreated, undervalued, forgotten. Whatever the reason, it is often at our lowest moments that we begin to doubt the words of Psalm 136. We feel unlovable. How much could the God of Heaven—the Creator of the universe—care about us?

These insecurities may feel true, but the real truth is this: God delights in us. In the words of Isaiah 54:10, “‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” We are, each of us, beloved children of God; God’s love for humanity is not conditional, transactional, or temporary. Our Creator knows us completely—from our best attributes to our areas of weakness. Come as you are. The love of God is real and total.

“I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” — Psalm 31:7

Love is at the very heart of who God is. Several places in scripture make this even more certain, asserting that God is love. The love of God is infused into all of creation; the wonder and beauty of our world are born directly out of the Lord’s delight and joy. And humanity, made in the image of God, holds an especially important place in God’s affection. 1 John 4:9-10 reflects the scope and scale of God’s love saying, “God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

Often, our culture highlights our flaws and our failings. We are surrounded by advertisements, articles, and opinions asserting how we ought to improve ourselves. There seems to be a standard of perfection for which we all must strive. We internalize our weaknesses not as opportunities to grow, but as strikes against our value and worth. According to this worldview, love is something we must earn.

But this is not reflective of God’s love. In the midst of our imperfection, God pours out love through Jesus. We can do nothing to earn this unfailing love; it is freely given. We can face down our limitations and imperfections unafraid, confident in the knowledge that the God of Heaven loves us and desires to help us thrive. As 1 John continues, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. We love each other because He loved us first” — 1 John 4:18-19.

Be comforted and stand assured. You are loved. Amen.

Sometimes it can be difficult to believe that we are loved. Perhaps shame or guilt over our mistakes and shortcomings overwhelms us. Perhaps we are haunted by memories of being mistreated, undervalued, forgotten. Whatever the reason, it is often at our lowest moments that we begin to doubt the words of Psalm 136. We feel unlovable. How much could the God of Heaven—the Creator of the universe—care about us?

These insecurities may feel true, but the real truth is this: God delights in us. In the words of Isaiah 54:10, “‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” We are, each of us, beloved children of God; God’s love for humanity is not conditional, transactional, or temporary. Our Creator knows us completely—from our best attributes to our areas of weakness. Come as you are. The love of God is real and total.

“I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” — Psalm 31:7

Love is at the very heart of who God is. Several places in scripture make this even more certain, asserting that God is love. The love of God is infused into all of creation; the wonder and beauty of our world are born directly out of the Lord’s delight and joy. And humanity, made in the image of God, holds an especially important place in God’s affection. 1 John 4:9-10 reflects the scope and scale of God’s love saying, “God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

Often, our culture highlights our flaws and our failings. We are surrounded by advertisements, articles, and opinions asserting how we ought to improve ourselves. There seems to be a standard of perfection for which we all must strive. We internalize our weaknesses not as opportunities to grow, but as strikes against our value and worth. According to this worldview, love is something we must earn.

But this is not reflective of God’s love. In the midst of our imperfection, God pours out love through Jesus. We can do nothing to earn this unfailing love; it is freely given. We can face down our limitations and imperfections unafraid, confident in the knowledge that the God of Heaven loves us and desires to help us thrive. As 1 John continues, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. We love each other because He loved us first” — 1 John 4:18-19.

Be comforted and stand assured. You are loved. Amen.